6/3- On the way to Murray....

[VinnyBass]

A funny thing happened on the way to Murray with my kayak this morning. As I got to the bottom of the hill instead of going
straight over the freeway and up to the lake, I made a right and got onto 8 East and headed to El Cap. Never a rush to get to
Murray I finally arrived at El Cap a little around 7:45. Kind of late for a morning session as did not much of any type of top water
bite. I headed down the left side from the boat dock area towards the dam. I left my Bixpy at home and did a lot of peddling
to reach a few rocky areas. After tossing a spinnerbait with no takers, I went to worms and craw baits. Picked up a couple
of dinks right off the bank on small senkos. Then on a Texas rigged fat Robo worm picked up another bass and then the winds
came up. It was crazy as my kayak was being blown all over the place and hard to keep it straight. I did pick up 3 more bass
fighting the winds trying to keep my kayak straight. Then after I tossed a Rage Craw over towards a rock, my kayak was quickly
turning away from the shore and I got bit and had to set the hook with the line behind the kayak. The bass looked pretty
healthy(3-4lbs?) as it came out of the water but on the second jump was gone. Bummed!
Despite the crazy winds (not like I didn't know that the winds are El Cap can be brutal), it was a fun morning acting on impulse
to drive out to El Cap. None of the bass were big, but next time I think arriving a little earlier would give me more time to fish
in calmer water.

[Mcfish]

I think El Cap tranlates to "Lake of Nasty stinkin wind". It can definitely be tough in the afternoons for kayaks, tubes, and aluminum boats! Some days reaction baits are the only thing you can throw on the nasty days. Congrats on picking up some fish in those conditions! They always say wind can be your friend and get the bite going...it can also blow you half way to the Cuyamacas!

[KillinTime]

I love El Cap as a lake, but avoid it due to the wind. Back when I was younger it did not bother me as much. Oh how things change=)
Too bad about the bigger one coming off. That's what keeps up going back....next time.

[bendopolo 44+]

Vinny, do you have a quality lightweight anchor? I use an anchor Trolly that clips to my anchor rode with a Carabiner. That way you can drop anchor and slide it to the rear. Now you get to fish downwind at your spot. You can let the rode out 15 feet at a time to hit more area. Then pull it back to your side to retrieve. Works great. I fish several”Wind Tunnel”Lakes this way. There are no problems, only solutions…

[VinnyBass]

Vinny, do you have a quality lightweight anchor? I use an anchor Trolly that clips to my anchor rode with a Carabiner. That way you can drop anchor and slide it to the rear. Now you get to fish downwind at your spot. You can let the rode out 15 feet at a time to hit more area. Then pull it back to your side to retrieve. Works great. I fish several”Wind Tunnel”Lakes this way. There are no problems, only solutions…

I do have an anchor trolley on my Kayak and I do have an anchor, but I haven’t used it in years and I probably should’ve thought of that. I guess because I haven’t used an anchor for so long.. I forgot all about it.
Thanks for the comment and now I realize if I really wanna fish in the wind, I better bring that anchor to make it a little easier.

[VinnyBass]

I love El Cap as a lake, but avoid it due to the wind. Back when I was younger it did not bother me as much. Oh how things change=)
Too bad about the bigger one coming off. That's what keeps up going back....next time.

I remember the days even decades ago fishing in my buddies aluminum bass boat. In the morning everything was great and
then the winds would pick up, and it was pretty crazy at times. I always remember the wild rides back from deep in North
end in the afternoon. Not only wasthe ride rough(thinking that any second the boat was just going to bust into pieces), but
the water would be spraying us in the face and in the cooler months it was not fun. The fish I lost was not that huge, but I have a pretty good memory and over the years I could probably write a book on exact places where I lost big fish, what I was using and what happened.
I cannot remember all of the swear words I used afterwards because there was far, far too many!

[bendopolo 44+]

Original Spot Lock

[camobass]

Anchor is key in the wind. I sold the pa14 after my shoulder replacement. I used my anchor all the time, especially setting up on points or rock piles. Super helpful in wind and light breeze for hitting every inch of a great spot.

[VinnyBass]

Anchor is key in the wind. I sold the pa14 after my shoulder replacement. I used my anchor all the time, especially setting up on points or rock piles. Super helpful in wind and light breeze for hitting every inch of a great spot.

Hey @camobass
Since the PA 14 was pretty heavy, did you use a grapnel anchor or mushroom type anchor?
I have a small grapnel anchor but I think it was too light. Any suggestions? Weight? etc.

[bendopolo 44+]

I have two anchors for my Kayak. One is a folding Grapnel, with a small length of chain for abrasion resistance. It is very light weight and effective in most situations.
The other is homemade. It is a 12 inch length of 1 1/2” galvanized pipe filled with sand and capped on each end with a hole drilled in one cap and an eyebolt fastened on. A clevis is used to attach a small length of chain then anchor rode. I call it a Plunge Anchor. It is used for muddy weedy bottoms as it penetrates the mud holding well yet can be pulled up without bringing up tons of weeds. It also will slide along the bottom allowing short moves without pulling up the Anchor.

[camobass]

Grapnel with about 3 foot of light chain. I forget the size of both the anchor and chain but it was pretty small. Chain is key but you can’t drop it straight down because it it pile on the anchor and it won’t set. Always drop it in a drift or pedaling away as you are letting it out. Yank on it to set. I take spray paint and paint a mark every 3 feet so you can properly set the anchor and can know when it’s on bottom. After you set it, usually go 2 or 3:1 scope. Example, 10’ deep, have 20-30 feet out. If you’re too short on the scope, it will drag or not stay set.

If it’s a folding anchor don’t throw it either. Feed it into the water

[Fisheromen]

Vinny, don't you have an old car battery?